Die for forming bottle caps



June v16, 1942. y H, W MAR-rm 2,286,865

l DIE FOR FORMING BOTTLE CAPS Filed Aug. 5, 1959 Patented June 16, 1942 DIE FOR FORMING BOTTLE CAPS Harold W. Martin, Malvernc, N. Y., assgnor to American Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application August 5, 1939, serial No. 288,591

' 2 Claims. (ci. '1s-'35) This invention relates to bottle caps and more particularly. to milk bottle caps of the cover-all type.

An object of the invention is to provide a cap v of the above type having a vent to release fluid pressure which may be built up within the bottle so as to prevent the cap from being unseated thereby.

Another object is to'provide a vent for re leasing the internal pressure from the bottle and for preventing contamination of the contents thereof due to the entrance of external fluids.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved method and means for making a cap ofA the above type.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent l as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed outmore particularly in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself may be better un-.

derstood by referring to'the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth .for purposes of illustration.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a cap forming die illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig-2 is a broken side elevation of the plunger of the upper die;

Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of the completed cap;

Fig. 4 is a vertical corrugation ring;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the plunger of an upper forming die illustrating a further embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the cap formed thereon; f

Fig. 8 is a. vertical section through the lower corrugation ring for .forming the cap of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9` is an enlarged detail view showing the section through the lower lower corrugation ring with the cap applied thereto;

Fig. 10 is a, side elevation of the plunger of an upper forming die illustratinga still further embodiment of the invention;

of the cap formed on the plunger of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a partial bottom plan view of thecap shown in Fig. 11.

-In the following description and in the' claims certain specific terms are used for convenience in referring to various details of the invention. These terms are, however, to be given as broad an interpretation as the state of the art will permit. Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the invention is shown as applied to a cap of the cover-all type having a bore covering portion or diaphragm I0 having an outer annular section Il adapted to seat on the internal ledge of a standard milk bottle and having a U-sliaped pouring lip housing comprising an inner sealing flange I2, a horizontal top portion I3 and an outer skirt I4. The sealing flange I2 is adapted to seat within the pouring lip of the bottle and the top portion I3 and the outer skirt I4 are adapted to extend over the pouring lip to completely coverI the same. y

The cap is preferably formed of a `paper which i has been pre-treated with parafn so as to render the same pliable, as more fully 'set forth in the Baum Patent 1,668,349, and may. be made by l upper and lower dies comprising an upper plunger skiving ring ,24 may be provided with a recess Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly broken away, 55

25 which is adapted to'form an annular bead 26 on the pouring lip housing in alignment with and forming an extension of the skirt I4. The skiving ring is adapted to compress and compact the stock so as to interfelt the bres thereof and produce a dense hornlike structure,.as set forth in the above mentioned Baum patent.

A skirt sizing ring 21 may also be provided to engage the lower edge of the skirt for compacting the same and forcing thestock into the recess 25. The upper corrugation ring `22 may be provided with recesses 28 into which the stock is forced by the skirt sizing ring 2l to form a plurality of corrugations or beads 29 across the top portion I3 of the cap. 1

The rings 22 and 2 3 are referred to as corrugation rings inasmuch as they cooperateto form the top`portion I3 which, inthe form shown, is provided with corrugations 29. It is to be understood, however, that the cap may be formed with a smooth top, if desired, in which case the rings 22 and 23 may be made with smooth surfaces. In forming the above mentioned cap from a blank, the plungers 20,and 2|.; are rst depressed with respect to the corrugation rings 22 and 23,

' thereby cupping the stock and forming the dia-l trated in Fig. 9, preferably extend downwardly adistance correspondingl to only a portion of the width of the sealing flange I2. The notches 40 of the plunger 20 are ma'de in alignment with the bosses 4I for lthe reason to be described.

In forming the cap by the use of the plunger and corrugation ring of Figs. 6 and 8, the bosses 4I serve to draw thel stock and to form grooves 43 in the outer surface 30 of the sealing ange I2 which are similar to the grooves- 34 above .mentioned. 'Ihe portions of the bosses 4I which engagement with the bottom of the skirt to compact the stock and to cause the same to form the annular bead 26 and the corrugations 29.

It is to be understood thatthe cap thus far so much thereof has been disclosed as is necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention. A cap of this type and means for making the same are disclosed more'in detail in an application of Harold W. lMartin, Serial No. 78,361.

In accordance with the present invention, a

` plurality of vents are formed in the outer surface 30 of the sealing flange I2. This is accomplished by providing grooves l3| on the lower edge of the upper plunger as shown in Fig. 2. These grooves 3| are.' of a sufficient size so that the stock may be drawn therein by the action of the die members above described so as to form vertical beads 32 on the inner surface 33 of the sealing flange I2 and corresponding grooves 34 on the outer surface ,'30 thereof. The comparative size of beads 32 and of the grooves 34 is dependent upon the pressure exerted by the plunger 2li and the clearance between this plunger and pressure, to pass upwardly through the vent and over the pouring lip of the bottle.

This cap is particularly designed for use in milk bottles in the summer months when the milk is ltaken from a refrigerated container and placed n on a doorstep where it is exposed to the sun. The

change in temperature mayv be sufficient to ex- 'l5 described is of standard construction and only pand the milk and cause the same to press against the under surface of the cap. If Some pressure release means were not provided, the cap. might be unseated and removed from the bottle thereby. In accordance with the present invention, however, the milk is forced outwardly over the inner ledge of the bottle, through the channels 34 and thence under the pouring lip housing of the cap where it flows down the outer surface of the. bottle. Outside materials do not enter the bottle, however, because a positive pressure is required to force the' same through the grooves 34. The cap is, accordingly, sanitary and remains on the bottle under all conditions..

,extend over the topof the corrugation ring 23 form grooves in the top'portion I3 of the pouring lip housing. These grooves are preferably in augment with the beads 23, so that suflicient stock is provided over thek grooves to prevent l weakening of the cap and form vents over the inside and top of the pouring lip. The notches 40 in the bottom edge of the plunger 20 permit the stock to be drawn thereover, as shown in Figs. 'l and 9,' to form corresponding notches 45 in the cap atthe intersection of the sealing flange I2 and the diaphragm I0. These notches 45 register with the grooves 43 and. ensure communication between the grooves and the contents of the bottle. They furthermore prevent the lower portion of the grooves 43 from being tightly closed due to the pressure exerted by an inner sealing disc (not shown) which may be inserted within the cap.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12. In this embodiment the upper plunger 20 is provided at its lower edge with a plurality of elongated notches 53. The forming dies are otherwise similar to those above described. In making a cap by the use of this plunger, elongated recesses 5I (Fig. 1l) are formed at the intersection of the sealing flange I2 and diaphragm I0 which communicate with a plurality of grooves 43. -This embodiment is otherwise similar to that described'in connection with Figs. 6 to 9.

It will be noted that in forming the notches 45 of Fig. 9 and 5I of Fig. 11, the stock is drawn inwardly to provide llets 52 and 53 respectively on the inner surface ofn the cap. These fillets strengthen the cap and also serve to space the inner disc, not shown, somewhat above the diaphragm I0 so as toprevent the disc from exerting pressure at the lower edge of the grooves 43 which might otherwise tendv to close these grooves.

It is to be understood that the grooves may be made of any desired size soas to provide channels adapted to permit the escape of liquid under pressure and to substantially seal the bottle against the escape of liquid in ordinary use such as when the bottle is turned on its side. The Adimensions may be varied in accordancewith the particular product. For example, a thicker liquid, such as cream or buttermilk may require a larger channel than a thinner liquid, such as milk, in order to properly release the pressure Within the bottle. The action of the vents may also be varied somewhat by varying the diameter of the inner disk and thereby varying the pres'- sure which this disk exerts lupon the sealing ange. The pressure must be such as to hold the t(Szap properly in place without closing up the ven Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown for purposes of'illustration, it is obvious that the invention is capable of various uses and that changes and modifcations may be made therein as will readily ap- .tion is only to following claims when interpreted in View of the prior art.

.die comprising a pear to a person skilled in the art. The invenbe limited in accordance with the What is vclaimed is: l

1. A die for forming milk bottlecaps or the like having a diaphragm and a pouring lip housing provided with an inner sealingflange, .said lower corrugation ring .adapted to form the pouring lip housing and an upper plunger adapted to seat therein for cupping the blank, said lower corrugation ring having an inner cylindrical surface with bosses formed on the upperpart thereof -of a length less than that of said inner sealing flange to form grooves in the outer surface of lsaid sealing flange, said plunger having notches formed on the lower edge thereof registering with said bosses to form corresponding notches in said cap registeringjwith said grooves and forming an enlargement of the lower end thereof.

2. A die for forming milk bottle caps or the like having a diaphragm and a pouring lip housing provided with an inner sealing flange, said die comprising a lower corrugation ring adapted to form thepouring lip housing and an upper plunger adapted to seat' therein for cupping the blank, said lower corrugation ring having an inner cylindrical surface with bosses formed on the upper part thereof of a length less than that o f said inner sealingange to form grooves in the outer surface of said sealing ange, said upper plunger having elongated recesses formed on the lower edge thereof each registering with a plu'- rality of said bosses'to form an elongated recess in said cap registering with the corresponding grooves in said sealing ange.

. HAROLD W. MARTIN. 

